EA Sports 500 - Ken Schrader Notes

Ken Schrader Notes, Quotes: EA Sports 500
‘Little things make big difference at Talladega’

Heading to a track where the combination importance of driver and car is at its height, Ken Schrader and the #49 BAM Racing Dodge move to the 2.66-mile Talladega (Ala.) SuperSpeedway this week for Sunday’s EA Sports 500.

This 500-mile race is the final of four restrictor-plate races for the NASCAR Winston Cup teams this season.

The 48-year-old Schrader, a native of Fenton, Mo., is one of just a few active Winston Cup drivers to have won races on all types of speedways. The busiest driver in major league motorsports, Schrader is looking for a “100-night” season this year, and will continue a winning Winston Cup career that has seen him win over $20 million.

BAM Racing is owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau of Coral Gables, Fla. The successful investors, who have fully funded the team for the complete 2003 season run, have built the BAM (Beth Ann Morgenthau’s initials) team from the ground up. Ms. Morgenthau is the only female in major league motorsports to start a team without becoming involved because of family connections.

General manager Eddie Jones is a veteran of the NASCAR Winston Cup wars, enjoying a championship career as a crew chief, mechanic and team leader. Crew chief Scott Eggleston is one of the few active crew chiefs in the business to have won a Daytona 500. Business manager Gus Larkin is a successful veteran motorsports marketer, and is leading the corporate sponsorship activities.

The thoughts of #49 BAM Racing Dodge driver Ken Schrader heading into Talladega:

“Little things make a big, big difference at Talladega. It’s kind of funny when you think about it. This is our longest, biggest, widest track but the littlest things can determine how well you run there.

“Even with the changes they have for us this week, these cars are going to be running all over each other all day long. You’re going to have someone on your front bumper, somebody right on your tail and somebody beside you. A lot of times you’re going to have two or even three somebodies beside you.

“Hundredths of seconds, shoot, thousandths of seconds can make such a big, big difference in how well you do. So you are looking for anything that will help you. Finding another few horsepower in the engine – that might not mean anything at Martinsville (Va.) but it can mean a ton at Talladega. Having the body cut through the air just a little bit better can move you up 10 spots in qualifying. A dent that wouldn’t mean anything at a Dover can absolutely kill your chances of doing anything at Talladega.

“So you look at the little things all week long. How can we get the body better? How can we get the engine better? Is there just a little bit faster line around the track?

“It really puts the pressure on drivers and crews. Somebody wins at Talladega every race but a lot of people lose. You are looking for so many little things that your first thought is not to lose anything. You spend almost an entire race that way, and then at the end you start searching for what it’s going to take to come out of the place successful.

“When (Dale) Earnhardt came through the field a few years ago from 14th to win the race, he was able to do that because he and his team had taken care of the little things up until that point. The body was still in great shape, the engine was still as good as it could get. So when it was time to make a move, he was able to move. A lot of it was just an incredible driver and an incredible car. Some of it, too, was him getting by people who hadn’t thought to be in a position to win the race.

“This is a big race for everybody. A team like ours, one looking for sponsorship for next year, one talking to several different corporations about the possibilities for 2004, it’s an even bigger race. Having the opportunity to shine some here could help us in those discussions, or maybe bring somebody new to the table.

“Every week we want to be noticed, for people to know we’re here and we’re available. A lot of teams out here are seeking sponsors right now, so we want to stand out. We’re easily the most cost-efficient value in Winston Cup racing right now, and we want some of these companies to see that.

“It’s a big week for us. By taking care of the little things, this BAM Racing Dodge team can make it an even bigger one.”

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